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3.5 from 27 votes

Caldo de Pollo Recipe

This authentic Mexican chicken soup recipe consists of a light, clear chicken broth served over cooked rice, shredded chicken and carrots, topped with cilantro, onion and a squeeze of lemon.

Prep Time
10 mins
Cook Time
10 mins
Servings: 4
Calories: 292 kcal
Course: Soup
Cuisine: Mexican

Ingredients

Chicken Broth
  • 1 bone-in chicken breast (skin-on or skinless)
  • 3 carrots
  • 1 bulb or head of garlic
  • 1 white onion
  • salt to taste
Rice
  • 1 cup uncooked white rice
  • 1 carrot, cooked and diced (take a carrot from the broth)
  • 2 cups water
  • 1 teaspoon cooking oil (olive oil or vegetable oil)
  • salt to taste
Soup Garnish
  • 1 handful cilantro sprigs
  • ½ white onion
  • 2 serrano chili peppers
  • 2-4 limes Mexican or key limes

Instructions

Make the Chicken Broth
    Cup of Yum
  1. Place the chicken breast in a large pot. Slice the carrots in half and quarter the onion. Add the carrots and ¾ of the onion to the pot, along with the whole bulb of garlic, unpeeled.
  2. Fill the pot with water until it covers the chicken by about an inch and a half, and add a teaspoon of salt.
  3. Cook over high heat, and bring to a boil. Continue cooking for about 25 minutes or until the chicken is no longer pink inside. Skim off any foam that forms.
  4. Once the chicken is cooked, strain and reserve the broth. Place the chicken and carrots in a dish to cool, and discard the onion and garlic.
  5. While the chicken and carrots cool, finely chop the onion, cilantro and Serrano chili (optional), and quarter the lemons.
  6. Once the chicken has cooled, shred using two forks to separate, or by pulling off the bone a pinch at a time with your fingers.
Make the Rice
  1. Peel the cooked carrots from the broth and cut them into quarters lengthwise. Reserve several sticks for serving.
  2. Dice the carrots and remaining uncooked quarter of onion into ¼ inch pieces.
  3. Place a pot over medium heat, drizzle in a teaspoon of cooking oil and add the uncooked rice. Quickly stir to combine.
  4. Add the carrots and onions and stir.
  5. Pour in the water and add salt to taste, cover and bring to a boil. Then reduce the heat to low. Cook for about 15 minutes or until all of the liquid has evaporated.
Serving Your Soup
  1. Gather your garnishes and ladle a spoonful of rice into a serving bowl.
  2. Pour reserved chicken broth over the rice to fill the bowl about three quarters.
  3. Add four reserved carrot sticks, 1 tablespoon each of onion and cilantro, a half cup of shredded chicken and top with a squeeze of lemon. Serve warm.

Notes

  • Substitutions
  • Jalapeño peppers for the serrano peppers.

Nutrition Information

Calories 292kcal (15%) Carbohydrates 53g (18%) Protein 15g (30%) Fat 3g (5%) Saturated Fat 1g (5%) Cholesterol 29mg (10%) Sodium 107mg (4%) Potassium 547mg (16%) Fiber 4g (16%) Sugar 5g (10%) Vitamin A 10317IU (206%) Vitamin C 21mg (23%) Calcium 70mg (7%) Iron 1mg (6%)

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 4Serving

Amount Per Serving

Calories 292

% Daily Value*

Calories 292kcal 15%
Carbohydrates 53g 18%
Protein 15g 30%
Fat 3g 5%
Saturated Fat 1g 5%
Cholesterol 29mg 10%
Sodium 107mg 4%
Potassium 547mg 12%
Fiber 4g 16%
Sugar 5g 10%
Vitamin A 10317IU 206%
Vitamin C 21mg 23%
Calcium 70mg 7%
Iron 1mg 6%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.

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